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Basement Vinyls

Radio K’s Grandpa Joe has been collecting records for over 40 years,
starting with his first 45 RPM record, “One Bad Apple” by the Osmonds,
in 1971. He used to play it constantly on the family “hi-fi” system
that doubled as a piece of furniture in their living room.

Through the years, his love for the vinyl record has never diminished,
from playing records on the stereo system he bought while in high
school, to when he first arrived at the U of M in 1977. Soon
thereafter, at WMMR in Coffman Union, he enjoyed playing albums from a
much wider variety of artists for the campus dorm audience. Later, as
a club DJ in the ‘80s, he grew to love the dance, electronic, and
alternative genres, and amassed many discs of these styles,
eventually taking up four bookshelves in his basement.

After 25 years away from University of Minnesota airwaves, he returned
to school to finish his degree and became a Radio K DJ and volunteer.
Soon after, in May, 2012, he started the popular all-vinyl specialty
show Basement Vinyls, which aired on Radio K until he graduated in
2013.

Now, after taking a year off post-graduation, Basement Vinyls is back
on Radio K, featuring a wide variety of records that he enjoys sharing
with the Radio K audience. He explains:

“Basement Vinyls is a retrospective of rock, pop, alternative, and
many other musical genres—all on glorious vinyl. I believe that,
despite the new ways to access music, vinyl should live on! There is
something special about the tonal quality of the vinyl record that
cannot be matched by today’s music platforms, not to mention the music
that was recorded on it! I can think of no better way to share that
with the wonderful Radio K audience than by hosting a show that is
100% vinyl, and allowing listeners to have input into the show.”

If you love records like Grandpa Joe does, join him for Basement
Vinyls Thursday evenings at 8 PM (Central) on Radio K….Real Vinyl
Radio.